The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award

The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $15,000 stipend for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world. The award allows recipients to engage in a meaningful public service activity for one year before proceeding on to graduate school or a career.

Please complete and mail in an application form by January 18, 2019. Your application should also include a proposal, budget, transcript, resume, and three letters of recommendation.

The proposal may encompass any activity that furthers the public good. It can be undertaken alone or by working through established charitable, religious, educational, governmental, or other public service organizations.

Background

Samuel Huntington was President and Chief Executive Officer of the New England Electric System which later merged with National Grid. He was deeply interested in public service. Following his graduation from college and before attending law school, Mr. Huntington taught in Nigeria. The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award was established by his friends to allow other students to realize similar experiences and to provide public service.

2018 Award Winners

Dejah Powell has created HEAL, which represents Health, Engaged Activism, and Learning. Through gardening at a school and field trips to museums and cultural events, she will introduce young black students of south side, Chicago, to be conscious of their environment and food justice. She has found that this kind of education improves their mental, physical and spiritual health, which in turn helps them to become active citizens and impactful change agents for a better community and future. For more information about Dejah Powell, read the article about her in the Cornell Chronicle.

Dennis Delasi Nyanyo plans to renovate the Bolgatanga Regional Library, Ghana, Africa, which is in current disrepair, and to revamp their mobile van service so that the library may continue serving the larger community and outlying thirteen districts. The library will be able to engage school activities such as spelling bees and to rent the renovated auditorium to maintain the property. Dennis has also secured the help of SOSA (Scholars in Our Society and Africa) as well as Books for Africa so that the library will continue to have quality books in its collection.

Suriya Shahi plans to build Sapura Dream Foundation School in Humla, Nepal, where the school can provide free quality access to primary and secondary education for the disadvantaged and marginalized children of Humla, Nepal. This will be an independent, nonpolitical school, which does not currently exist in the area. He plans to institute a trekking component as a tourist attraction to foreigners in order to bring in funds to continue the school’s mission of free education for those who otherwise would not qualify due to gender, caste, or poverty. Click here for more information.